Date | November 2021 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 21N.1.HL.TZ1.6 |
Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 1 |
Command term | Question number | 6 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The image shows the structure of the protein hemoglobin
[Source: Hemoglobin molecule, Microbiology ID: e42bd376-624b-4c0f-972f-e0c57998e765@4.4 OpenStax Microbiology
https://cnx.org/contents/5CvTdmJL@4.4 and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OSC_Microbio_07_04_
hemoglobin.jpg Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License,
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.]
What level of protein structure bonds the α and β chains together?
A. Primary
B. Secondary
C. Tertiary
D. Quaternary
Markscheme
D
Examiners report
This question proved surprisingly challenging. The linking together of polypeptides in a hemoglobin molecule is quaternary structure. A misreading of the question might have led to the answer ‘primary structure’ as that is the bonding together within polypeptides, but few candidates chose that answer and many more chose secondary or tertiary structure. Perhaps ‘binds’ rather than ‘bonds’ in the question would have helped avoid misunderstandings.